Leprosy, a disease thought banished from Europe, has made a shocking return with new cases in Romania and Croatia, the first in over 30 years, prompting health officials’ reactions
A medieval disease thought to be long gone from Europe has shockingly resurfaced. New cases have been reported in Romania and Croatia for the first time in over three decades.
The two Balkan countries have each reported a case of leprosy infection. This has not happened in the European Union for over 30 years, and this is the first time it has happened since the early 1990s.
Romania and Croatia had been free of the disease since 1981 and 1993, respectively. And despite initial worries that the disease is making a comeback, health authorities have reassured the public that the risk of contagion is low.
Last week (December 12), the Romanian Minister of Health reportedly announced one confirmed case and three suspected cases among Asian employees of a massage parlour in the city of Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania. According to the public news agency Agerpres, one of the masseuses had recently returned from a trip to Indonesia, where she had visited her mother, who herself has leprosy.
The massage parlour has since been temporarily closed. In Croatia, health authorities also confirmed an isolated case in Split, where a patient presented at the hospital about 10 days ago with symptoms consistent with the disease, 20 Minutes reported.
Once again, the patient is of Asian origin; a Nepali worker who has been living in Croatia with his family for two years. The man has begun treatment, and those who had close contact with him have received post-exposure prophylaxis, even though they tested negative.
Although leprosy is contagious, it requires prolonged exposure to spread from one person to another. “There is absolutely no reason for the public to be concerned,” said Croatian epidemiologist Bernard Kaić, as quoted by Rai News.
Moreover, nowadays the disease can be cured with antibiotic treatment, although the treatment is fairly lengthy, lasting between six and 12 months. According to the World Health Organization, leprosy remains endemic in Brazil, India, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, and neighboring countries.
However, migration flows have led to sporadic resurgences of the disease in other parts of the world. In 2024, more than 170,000 cases of infection have been recorded globally.
What is leprosy?
Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic bacterial infection (Mycobacterium leprae) primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves, causing discolored skin patches, numbness, muscle weakness, and potential nerve damage, leading to ulcers, paralysis, and blindness if untreated. It spreads via droplets from the nose/mouth of untreated individuals, but isn’t highly contagious and doesn’t spread through casual contact.
The disease is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT), with early treatment preventing serious complications and disabilities
The Leper King
Leprosy can cause significant deformities, primarily due to nerve damage that leads to loss of sensation, muscle paralysis, and repeated injuries, resulting in shortened limbs, clawed fingers, foot drop, and facial disfigurement, but early treatment with antibiotics can prevent these severe complications. One of the most famous historical figures with leprosy, Baldwin IV ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Crusader era.
He was diagnosed with leprosy as a teenager and became known as “the Leper King”. Despite his illness, he led armies and was a key figure in the politics of the Crusader states.
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